Punching machine



1941- c. E. HARPER 2,260,223

PUNGHING MACHINE Filed June 6, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l Ii. 1 1. Wm H 55m\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ k\\&

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ATTORNEYS WITNESS Oct. 21, 1941. c. E. HARPER PUNCHING MACHINE 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 6, 1941 e72 6&7298 67" INVENTOR.

Patented Oct. 21, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PUNCHING .MACHINECharles E. Harper, Waycross, Ga. Application June 6, 1941, Serial No.396,932

5 Claims. (Cl. 164-91) This invention relates to punching machines, andits general object is -to provide a machine that is primarily designedfor punching or perforating a relatively great number of sheets ofmaterial, such as for example twelve or more quires of paper, in asingle operation, with minimum effort on the part of the operator andwithout-disarrang-ing the sheets relative to each other, so that theedges of all the sheets will remain even and the perforations in perfectregistration,

to allow easy insertion of suitable fastening means therethrough, forbinding the sheets together, therefore it will be seen that my machineis very desirable for use in perforating voluminous records prior tobinding the same together.

An important object is to provide a punching machine that puncheselongated perforations or slots for fittingly receiving the flat prongsof paper fasteners or the like now in general use, thus the sheets areheld together against any possibility of disarrangement relative to eachother, as distinguished by the use of such fasteners in roundperforations provided by punching devices now in general use, and whichare capable of perforating only a few sheets at a time, thereby saiddevices are very unsatisfactory for use in the process of binding volumematerial.

A further object is to provide a punching machine that is primarilydesigned for use as an ofiice appliance, in that it is readily portableand the machine is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture,and extremely efiicien-t in operation, use and service.

This invention also consists in certain other features of constructionand in the combination I? which forms the subject matter of the present3 invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof. Figure 3 is a sectional view takenapproximately on line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of thearrows.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 4-4 of Figure2., looking in the direction of the arrows.

.Figure 5 is a perspective view of. the blade carrier, with the bladessecured thereto.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the sheet receiving table plate whichhas formed thereon attaching means for the punching -mechanism frame. I

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the blade carrier stop to limit thedownward movement thereof.

Refer-ring to the drawings in detail, it will be noted that the table ofmy machine includes a base 1 having secured to and depending therefromadjacent to the corners thereof knob-like supporting feet 2 preferablymade from rubber or the like, and secured to the base is .a fiat topmember 3 of a size relative to that of the base to extend laterallybeyond the same, as indicated in Figures 2 and 4. However, the front endof the top member and base are flush with each other, while the rear endof the top member is spaced a considerable distance forwardly of therear end of the base, and the rear portion of the top member iscentrally recessed for the major portion of its length to fittinglyreceive a rectangular metallic plate 6 supported flush with the upperface of the top-member for cooperation therewith to provide a flatsupport for the material to be perforated. From Figure 4 it will benoted that ample space is provided between the base and the plate 4 toreceive the blades when at the end of their downstroke.

While the rear portion of the top member or in fact the rear ends of theextensions 5 that are formed by the recess, rests upon the base, theforward portion of the top member is spaced from the base by wedgestrips 6 disposed between the base and top member for holding the latterat a slight rearward inclination, as best shown in Figures 1 and 3, tofacilitate placing and urging the material to be perforated against theupright or vertical blade like portion 1 of a right angle gauge rule.The upright por tion I is flush with the rear ends of the extensions 5and provides a stop for the material, while the lower or horizontalblade like portion .8 rests upon the upper faces of the extensions 5 andthe plate 4, as well as is fixed to the latter.

" Each of the portions 1 and 8 are graduated and numbered, as shown inFigures 2 and 4 to bring about accurate centering of the materialrelative to the blades, prior to perforating said material, as will beapparent.

Formed on and extending centrally and rearwardly from the plate 4 is anattaching member for the frame of the punching mechanism, the attachingmember including a horizontal portion 9 formed with lateral downturnedflanges I0 along the entire length of the sides thereof, and

frame, and the front portions of the side walls at the lower endsthereof are recessed as at l3 for receiving the gauge rule, and the rearedge of the plate 4, which bear against the vertical edges of therecesses, while the horizontal edges of the recesses overlie the rule,as best shown in Figure 1. The recesses also provide a space forreceiving the edge portions of the material to be perforated.

The side walls I2are connected together adjacent;

to the recesses l 3 by a bolt and nut connection [4,

the bolt thereof bridging the side walls and hav-l5 ing mounted thereona spacing sleeve ,l5.

Formed on or otherwise secured tol he, confronting faces of the frontportions of the side walls 12 and along the height thereof from thearepairs of spaced bars l6 that provide vertical guide grooves I! for theblade carrier, the latter being of inverted substantiallyU-shape configuration to provide depending arms l8 and a horizontal upperbightportion l9. Formed on 25 therouter sides of the arms at the upperends thereof are lugs that provide abutments for the upper ends of theelongated shanks 2| of a pair of blade members, the shanks bearingagainst the lugs and the blades 22 thereof are formed on 30 the shanksfor disposal in depending relation therefrom and of course the bladesextend a considerable distance below the lower ends of the arms I8. Theshanks together with the lugs 20 and the blades are mounted for slidablemove- 5 ment or travel in the guide grooves IT.

The shanks of the blades are fixed to the arms l8 ,by suitable means asshown, and are preferably readily detachab'le from the arms to not onlyfacilitate sharpening the lower beveled pen-1 erating ends of theblades, but for removing the same, in the event of damage thereto. Theblades from the beveled and reduced penetrating lower ends thereof areof narrow rectangular cross sectional shape inthe form shown, but the 5side edges of the blades may, be beveled to a cutting edge. In anyevent, due to the cross' sectional shape of the blades, they willprovide a narrow or slot like perforation in the material, for thepurpose as clearly set forth in the objects, that is to fittinglyreceive flat prongs of paper fasteners or the like. a V

Formed on and rising from thebight portion I9 of the blade carrier is apair of spaced parallel ears 23 and disposed between the rear portion ofthe side walls l2 for swinging movement, as well as mounted on a pivotbolt 24 for that purpose, is the lower portion of a fulcrum member 25that is formed to provide a pair of upright arms 26 which like the earshave apertures in the upper ends 60 thereof. A flat block like member 21is provided for connecting the fulcrum member to the blade-carrier, theblock member having rounded ends and being formed with pairs oftrunnions 28 and 29 extending from the sides adjacent theends thereof.The trunnions 28 are mountedin. the apertures-of the cars 23, while thetrunnions 29 are mounted in the apertures of the arms 26, ,to

allow for free pivotal movement of the block mem- 70 portion 30 of alever that is twisted adjacent its 75 connection with the blockmember toprovide "a handle portion 3| disposed at right angles to the portion 30,and the outer end portion of the lever may be reduced to provideconvenient gripping means.

Formed on or otherwise secured to the forward ends of the side walls I2is a pair of upright forwardly inclined limbs 32 reduced in taperedformation toward their upper ends that terminate in laterally directedhooks 33 having connected thereto the upper ends of coil springs 34which have their lower ends connected to hooks 35 formed on the ends ofa cross strip 36. cross strip is secured to and bridges the arms l8 Theof the blade carrier, and by that construction, it

will be obvious that the blade carrier is urged and normally held in itsupper position of Figure 4.

Disposed in the path of the arms E8 to limit 7 the downward movement ofthe blade carrier, is recesses l3 to the upper ends of the side walls,20

the horizontal upper forward portion 31 of an abutment member thatincludesa vertical portion 38 bearing against the gauge rule and'ahorizontallower rear portion 39 that is fixed to the horizontal portion9 of the attaching member, as best shown in Figure 3. The horizontalupper forward portion 31 is reduced to fit between the bars I6 and isdisposed flush with the upper edges of the recesses [33, as clearlyshown in Figure 3.

The lower or horizontal blade like portion 8 of the gauge rulefis'provided with slots 40 that register with like slots M in the plate 4,for passage of the perforating blades therethrough, when they havecompleted their punching or perforated action or in other words are atthe end of the downstroke thereof.

From the above description and disclosure in the drawings, it isbelieved that the use of my machine will be obvious, but it might bementioned that any number of sheets of material,

including a package of approximately five hundred can be perforated bymy machine, and they are placed upon the top member of the table withtheir edge portions to be perforated, disposed withinthe recesses I3.The hand lever is then lowered for forcing the blades 22 through thesheets, and it might be reiterated that due to the shape of the blades,the perforations provided thereby are elongated or of slot likeformation.

/ That shape of perforations is very desirable, in 0 that they fittinglyreceive flat prong paper fasteners or the like, as and for the purposepreviously set forth. The construction of the machine together With thelength of the lever brings about easy and expeditious operation thereof,regardless of the number of'sheets being punched, and the coil springsfacilitate removing the blades from the sheets.

It will be further obvious that my machine is not only capable ofperforating sheets of paper but also other sheet material such as softmetals, leather, cardboard andthe like.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantagesandnovel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction andin the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided thatsuch changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

7 What I claim is: 1. A punching machine comprising a table forreceiving material to be perforated, a frame fixed to and rising fromthe rear portion of the table a n d includingspaced parallel uprightwalls, bars secured to the walls and providing guide grooves along theheight thereof, an inverted substantially U-shaped blade carrierproviding a bight portion and arms depending therefrom, blades includingshanks secured to the arms and together with the shanks being mountedfor slidable movement in the grooves, abutment means having the shanksbearing against the same and being fixed to the arms, said blades havingpenetrating lower ends, means connected to the frame and the carrier forurging and holding the blades to and in a normal elevated position, andhandled means connected to the bight portion of the carrier for loweringthe blades to penetrating position.

2. A punching machine comprising a table for receiving material to beperforated, a frame fixed to and rising from the rear portion of thetable and including spaced parallel upright walls, bars secured to thewalls and providing guide grooves along the height thereof, an invertedsubstantially U-shaped blade carrier providing a bight portion and armsdepending therefrom, blades including shanks secured to the arms andtogether with the shanks being mounted for slidable movement in thegrooves, said blades being substantially flat in cross section andhaving beveled lower ends, limbs secured to and rising from said uprightwalls at a forward inclination, a cross member secured to and bridgingthe arms, said limbs and arms terminating at their outer ends intohooks, coil springs having their ends connected to the hooks of thelimbs and cross member respectively for urging and holding the blades innormal elevated position, and handled means connected to said carrierfor lowering the blades to penetrating position.

3. A punching machine comprising a table for receiving material to beperforated, a frame fixed to and rising from the table, a blade carrierguided for vertical slidable movement in the frame and includingdepending arms, blades including shanks secured to the arms, said bladesdepending from the shanks and bein substantially flat in cross sectionand having beveled lower penetrating ends to provide slot likeperforations, springs connected to the frame and the carrier for urgingand holding the blades to and in a normal elevated position, fulcrummeans mounted for swinging movement in the frame and including uprightarms, means connecting the upright arms to the carrier and being pivotedthereto, and a hand lever fixed to the connecting means for lowering theblades to penetrating position.

4. A punching machine comprisin a table ineluding a base, a top membersecured to the base and having a recessed rear portion, a plate havingblade receiving openings therein and fittingly arranged within therecess for disposal flush with the top member, said plate beingsupported above the base to provide a space between the same, a frameincluding spaced parallel upright walls, means formed on the rear end ofthe plate and having downturned flanges resting upon the base, saidmeans being fixed to the base and having the walls fixed to the flangesthereof, said walls being recessed in the lower forward portions thereofwith the upper edges of the recesses overlying the plate, a right angledgraduated gauge rule secured to the plate and mounted in the recesses ofsaid walls for receiving material to be perforated, said rule havingopenings therein registering with the openings of the plate, bladedmeans guided for slidable movement between said Walls and includingdepending blades for passage through the openings, means for urging andholding the bladed means to and in a normal elevated position, and meansfor lowering the bladed means to penetrating position.

5. A punching machine comprising a table including a base, supportingfeet secured to the base, a top member secured to the base and having acentrally recessed rear portion, a plate having blade receiving slotstherein and fittingly arranged within the recess for disposal flush withthe top member, said plate being supported above the base to provide aspace between the same, means for holding the top member and plate in arearward tilted position relative to the base, a frame including spacedparallel upright walls, means formed on the rear end of the plate andhaving downturned flanges resting upon the base, said means being fixedto the base and having said walls fixed to the flanges thereof, saidwalls having recesses in the lower forward portions thereof with theupper edges of the recesses overlying the plate, a right angle graduatedgauge rule secured to the plate and mounted in the recesses of saidwalls for receiving material to be perforated, said rule having slotstherein registering with the slots of the plate, a blade carrier guidedfor slidable movement between said walls, blades secured to anddepending from the carrier for disposal through said slots, means forholding the carrier in a normal elevated position, means for loweringthe carrier for disposing the blades to a penetrating position, andmeans between said walls for disposal in the path of the carrier tolimit the downward movement thereof.

CHARLES E. HARPER.

